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Has the Museums Association's Diversify scheme changed the profile of the museum workforce?
Museums Association
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Lee Fulton, independent consultant (Diversify project leader, 1998-2005)

“Diversify, through positive, action bursaries and traineeships for minority ethnic individuals has contributed to some changes in the profile of the workforce. 

Whether the individuals who went through the Diversify scheme are currently employed in the museum sector is dependent on personal circumstances.

Sustainability of staff positions could be linked to new funding within the sector; thus enabling former trainees to compete for new job vacancies and career progression.

A diverse workforce could enable the development of a diverse audience. From my recent experience of museums, I have noticed that the proportion of visitors from minority ethnic groups has increased.”

Clara Arokiasamy, director, KALAI, international consultancy

“The short answer is, no, 110 qualified Diversify recruits is too small to make any significant impact. Museums continue to suffer from under-representation of black and ethnic minorities (BME). A rising British BME youth population, cuts and reliance on philanthropy will only add to this woe.

The millions spent on bursary programmes, targeted initiatives and cultural leadership have not produced the desired impact. Could this money have been better spent creating proper posts and sustainable employment for BMEs?

The focus must shift from skills to competency-based recruitment practices, including competencies aimed at diversity and retention of existing BMEs already in the sector.”

Lucy Shaw, Diversify coordinator and freelance consultant

“Diversify was a political and moral issue – the monoculture had to be challenged and the Museums Association has been at the forefront of this.

Research carried out last year shows that 75% of Diversify participants were employed in museums within six months of completing training with more than half of participants either already in a management role or with the potential to progress to one.

Over the past decade the proportion of minority-ethnic people working in museums has tripled and Diversify has played a role in achieving this.

However, this is still only around 7% of the workforce, compared with about 12% minority-ethnic people in the working-age population.  The profile has changed but we need to go further.”

Richard Sandell, director of school of museum studies, University of Leicester

“The Diversify scheme and, crucially, its participants, have achieved a huge amount – the museum workforce is undoubtedly more diverse and the sector is better for it.

But the goals that inspired the scheme – a diverse workforce more representative of the communities museums aim to engage; that equips museums to sustain relationships with wide-ranging audiences; and a sector-wide commitment to the values on which the scheme have been based  – are challenging and long term.

If Diversify’s achievements are to be extended and its principles successfully embedded in museums’ thinking and practice, we need to think of the work as evolving rather than ending.”



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